Who was OR-7?
OR-7 was a gray wolf from Oregon that traveled more than 1,000 miles and became the first wild wolf known in California since 1924 when he crossed the state line in 2011.
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Oregon Facts
Oregon facts and facts about oregons, from the Random Facts shelf.
126 facts on this shelf
Who is the Bing cherry named after?
The Bing cherry was developed in Oregon in 1875 and named after Ah Bing, a Chinese orchard foreman.
Who invented the modern maraschino cherry?
Oregon State University professor Ernest Wiegand developed the modern maraschino cherry brining process in 1925.
Where did Keiko from "Free Willy" live?
Keiko, the orca from "Free Willy," lived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium before being released near Iceland.
Why is Portland called the City of Roses?
Portland, Oregon, is known as the "City of Roses" and is home to the International Rose Test Garden, the oldest public rose test garden in the US still in operation.
Where are most Easter lilies grown?
Most Easter lily bulbs sold in the US are grown in a small area on the California-Oregon border.
What is the deepest lake in the US?
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US, about 1,943 feet deep.
How did Crater Lake form?
Crater Lake formed about 7,700 years ago when the volcano Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed.
Where does Crater Lake's water come from?
No rivers flow into or out of Crater Lake. It's filled almost entirely by rain and snow.
What is the Old Man of the Lake?
The "Old Man of the Lake" is a tree stump that has floated upright in Crater Lake since at least 1896.
When did Crater Lake become a national park?
Crater Lake became a national park in 1902, making it one of the oldest national parks in the US.
What is Wizard Island?
Wizard Island in Crater Lake is a small volcano that formed after the lake did.
How much snow does Crater Lake get?
Crater Lake gets an average of about 42 feet of snow a year.
Did anyone witness the eruption that formed Crater Lake?
The Klamath people's oral traditions describe the eruption that created Crater Lake.
What is on Oregon's state quarter?
Oregon's 2005 state quarter features Crater Lake.
How clear is Crater Lake's water?
Crater Lake is famous for its clear water, and in 1997 scientists could see a measuring disk about 142 feet down.
What is the tallest waterfall in Oregon?
Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon at 620 feet.
Who built the bridge at Multnomah Falls?
The Benson Bridge at Multnomah Falls was built in 1914 and is named after businessman Simon Benson.
How many people visit Multnomah Falls?
Multnomah Falls draws about 2 million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited natural sites in the Pacific Northwest.
How many tiers does Multnomah Falls have?
Multnomah Falls drops in two tiers.
Does Multnomah Falls ever dry up?
Multnomah Falls flows year-round because it's fed by underground springs, rain, and snowmelt.
Did the Eagle Creek Fire reach Multnomah Falls?
The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire threatened the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge.
When was Multnomah Falls Lodge built?
Multnomah Falls Lodge was built in 1925.
Do you need a permit to visit Multnomah Falls?
Multnomah Falls has used timed-entry permits during busy summer months.
Is there a legend about Multnomah Falls?
A Native American legend tells of a chief's daughter connected to the creation of Multnomah Falls.
Who is Multnomah Falls named after?
Multnomah Falls is named after the Multnomah people.
What is the tallest mountain in Oregon?
Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon at about 11,249 feet.
Is Mount Hood an active volcano?
Mount Hood is a potentially active volcano that last erupted in the mid-1800s.
Which famous movie used Timberline Lodge?
Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge, built in the 1930s, appeared as the exterior of the hotel in "The Shining."
Can you ski on Mount Hood in summer?
Mount Hood offers year-round skiing on the Palmer Snowfield.
Who is Mount Hood named after?
Mount Hood was named in 1792 after British admiral Samuel Hood.
What did the Multnomah people call Mount Hood?
The Multnomah people called Mount Hood "Wy'east."
Is Mount Hood one of the most climbed mountains?
Mount Hood is often called one of the most climbed snow-capped mountains in the world.
How many glaciers are on Mount Hood?
Mount Hood has 12 named glaciers.
Who dedicated Timberline Lodge?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge in 1937.
What was the Barlow Road?
The Barlow Road was a toll road around Mount Hood used by Oregon Trail pioneers starting in 1846.
What was the first National Scenic Area?
The Columbia River Gorge became the first National Scenic Area in the US in 1986.
How was the Columbia River Gorge carved?
The Columbia River Gorge was carved partly by the enormous Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age.
How many waterfalls are in the Columbia River Gorge?
The Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge has dozens of waterfalls.
What was the first planned scenic highway in the US?
The Historic Columbia River Highway, built between 1913 and 1922, was the first planned scenic highway in the US.
Where is the windsurfing capital of the world?
Hood River, in the Columbia River Gorge, is known as a windsurfing and kiteboarding capital.
When was Bonneville Dam built?
Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River opened in 1938 and has fish ladders for salmon.
What is Vista House?
Vista House, built in 1918, overlooks the Columbia River Gorge.
When did Lewis and Clark pass through the gorge?
Lewis and Clark traveled through the Columbia River Gorge in 1805.
What is the Bridge of the Gods?
The Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River is named after a Native American legend and is the lowest point on the Pacific Crest Trail.
What happened to Celilo Falls?
Celilo Falls, an ancient Native American fishing site, was flooded by The Dalles Dam in 1957.
How tall is Haystack Rock?
Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach is a sea stack about 235 feet tall.
Do puffins nest at Haystack Rock?
Tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock in spring and summer.
Which movie featured Haystack Rock?
Haystack Rock appears in the 1985 movie "The Goonies."
How did Cannon Beach get its name?
Cannon Beach is named after a cannon that washed ashore from a shipwreck in 1846.
Is Haystack Rock protected?
Haystack Rock is a protected marine garden.
How did Haystack Rock form?
Haystack Rock formed from ancient lava flows.
Can you climb Haystack Rock?
Climbing Haystack Rock is prohibited.
Does Cannon Beach have a sandcastle contest?
Cannon Beach has held a sandcastle contest since 1964.
Did Lewis and Clark visit Cannon Beach?
Members of the Lewis and Clark expedition traveled near Cannon Beach in 1806 to see a beached whale.
Are Oregon's beaches public?
Oregon's 1967 Beach Bill made the state's beaches public.
How did Portland get its name?
Portland was named in 1845 by a coin toss between founders from Portland, Maine, and Boston.
What is the smallest park in the world?
Portland's Mill Ends Park, only about two feet across, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest park in the world.
How big is Forest Park?
Portland's Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the US.
What is Powell's City of Books?
Powell's City of Books in Portland is the largest independent bookstore in the world, taking up an entire city block.
Is there a volcano in Portland?
Portland has an extinct volcano, Mount Tabor, inside the city.
What are the Shanghai tunnels?
Legends say Portland's underground "Shanghai tunnels" were used to kidnap sailors, though historians debate how true the stories are.
What is Portland's urban growth boundary?
Portland adopted an urban growth boundary in 1979 to limit sprawl.
Why is Portland called Stumptown?
Portland is nicknamed "Stumptown" because of the tree stumps left after rapid logging.
Which Simpsons characters are named after Portland streets?
"The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening grew up in Portland and named characters like Flanders and Lovejoy after its streets.
Where did "Keep Portland Weird" come from?
Portland's "Keep Portland Weird" slogan was borrowed from Austin, Texas.
What are the Painted Hills?
The Painted Hills are part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
What gives the Painted Hills their colors?
The Painted Hills get their colors from layers of ancient volcanic ash that weathered into clay.
What are the Seven Wonders of Oregon?
The Painted Hills are one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon.
How old are the John Day fossils?
Fossils at the John Day Fossil Beds span tens of millions of years.
Do the Painted Hills change color?
The colors of the Painted Hills change with the light and moisture.
Why can't you walk on the Painted Hills?
Visitors aren't allowed to walk on the Painted Hills because footprints can last for years.
Who first studied the John Day fossils?
Thomas Condon studied fossils in the John Day region in the 1860s.
Where are the Painted Hills?
The Painted Hills are near the town of Mitchell, Oregon.
How many units are in the John Day Fossil Beds?
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument has three units: Painted Hills, Sheep Rock, and Clarno.
Are the Painted Hills good for stargazing?
The Painted Hills are a great place for stargazing.
Where was US sport climbing born?
Smith Rock State Park is considered the birthplace of modern US sport climbing in the 1980s.
What is Monkey Face?
Monkey Face is a 350-foot rock formation at Smith Rock.
How did Smith Rock form?
Smith Rock is made of volcanic tuff.
Which river runs through Smith Rock?
The Crooked River winds through Smith Rock State Park.
What is Misery Ridge?
Misery Ridge is a steep hiking trail at Smith Rock.
Is Smith Rock one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon?
Smith Rock is one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon.
How many climbing routes are at Smith Rock?
Smith Rock has thousands of climbing routes.
Do golden eagles nest at Smith Rock?
Golden eagles nest at Smith Rock, and some areas close seasonally to protect them.
When did Smith Rock become a state park?
Smith Rock became a state park in 1960.
Where is Smith Rock?
Smith Rock is near Terrebonne, Oregon.
Where are the largest coastal sand dunes in North America?
The Oregon Dunes stretch about 40 miles and are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.
Did the Oregon Dunes inspire "Dune"?
The Oregon Dunes inspired author Frank Herbert to write "Dune" after he visited in 1957.
How tall are the Oregon Dunes?
Some of the Oregon Dunes rise up to 500 feet.
Can you drive on the Oregon Dunes?
Off-highway vehicles are allowed in some areas of the Oregon Dunes.
What are tree islands?
The Oregon Dunes have "tree islands," patches of forest surrounded by sand.
How is European beachgrass changing the Oregon Dunes?
Invasive European beachgrass is changing the shape of the Oregon Dunes.
Why are parts of the Oregon Dunes closed?
Parts of the Oregon Dunes close seasonally to protect nesting western snowy plovers.
Is there a lighthouse at the Oregon Dunes?
The Umpqua River Lighthouse stands near the Oregon Dunes.
When was the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area created?
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area was created in 1972.
Are there lakes in the Oregon Dunes?
There are freshwater lakes behind the Oregon Dunes.
What is the oldest US settlement west of the Rockies?
Astoria, founded in 1811 as Fort Astoria by John Jacob Astor's fur company, is the oldest US settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
What is Goonies Day?
Astoria celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the anniversary of the movie's release.
How many steps are in the Astoria Column?
The Astoria Column, built in 1926, has 164 steps to the top.
What is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America?
The Astoria-Megler Bridge, about four miles long, is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
What is the Graveyard of the Pacific?
The dangerous Columbia River Bar near Astoria is called the "Graveyard of the Pacific."
Was "Kindergarten Cop" filmed in Astoria?
The movie "Kindergarten Cop" was filmed in Astoria.
Where did Lewis and Clark spend the winter of 1805?
Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805 to 1806 at Fort Clatsop near Astoria.
Are there sea lions in Astoria?
Sea lions gather on docks in Astoria's East Mooring Basin.
What is the Columbia River Maritime Museum?
The Columbia River Maritime Museum is in Astoria.
What is Astoria's Scandinavian festival?
Astoria holds a Scandinavian festival celebrating its heritage.
Where is the last Blockbuster?
The last Blockbuster video store in the world is in Bend, Oregon.
What is Newberry National Volcanic Monument?
Newberry National Volcanic Monument near Bend includes Lava Butte.
What is the Bend Ale Trail?
The Bend Ale Trail is a tour of the city's breweries.
What ski area is near Bend?
Mt. Bachelor ski area is near Bend.
How did Bend get its name?
Bend got its name from "Farewell Bend," a spot on the Deschutes River.
What is Lava River Cave?
Lava River Cave near Bend is a lava tube about a mile long.
Did astronauts train near Bend?
Apollo astronauts trained near Bend because the volcanic landscape resembles the Moon.
Can you float the river in Bend?
Floating the Deschutes River is a popular summer activity in Bend.
What is the Old Mill District?
Bend's Old Mill District was once a lumber mill.
How high is Bend?
Bend sits at about 3,600 feet in Oregon's high desert.
What is the largest state park in Oregon?
Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon.
What is the Trail of Ten Falls?
Silver Falls State Park's Trail of Ten Falls lets hikers walk behind some of the waterfalls.
How tall is South Falls?
South Falls at Silver Falls State Park is 177 feet tall.
What is the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks?
Silver Falls is often called the "crown jewel" of Oregon State Parks.
Who built the Silver Falls Lodge?
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the Silver Falls Lodge in the 1930s.
Was Silver Falls almost a national park?
Silver Falls was proposed as a national park but was rejected because the area had been logged.
Did anyone go over Silver Falls in a canoe?
Daredevil Al Faussett went over Silver Falls in a canoe in 1928.
Where is Silver Falls?
Silver Falls State Park is near Silverton and Salem.
Is there a Frank Lloyd Wright house near Silver Falls?
Frank Lloyd Wright's Gordon House is in Silverton.
Who was Bobbie the Wonder Dog?
Bobbie the Wonder Dog traveled about 2,500 miles to return home to Silverton in 1924.